If you are feeling pain in your foot, this can be frustrating. Fortunately, it is not hard for a doctor to diagnose your problem and start a treatment plan for you. The type of doctor you need to see is a podiatrist, which is a doctor that specializes in the feet. Below are two problems the doctor may find with your foot as well as treatment options available.
1. Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis affects the Achilles tendon and is often due to overuse. This tendon is a group of tissue that connects your heel to your calf muscles. This type of injury is often due to running, such as if you run as part of an exercise plan on a regular basis. Playing sports, such as basketball or tennis, can also cause problems with the Achilles tendon if you participate in these sports regularly. Your chances of getting an Achilles tendon injury goes up as you get older.
Your doctor will ask you to limit your activities for a time until your Achilles tendon completely heals. Once it is healed, you will move back into your activities slowly.
If you are having this problem, you will feel pain over your heel after exercise. In many cases, the pain will subside with rest. For more severe cases of Achilles tendinitis, surgery is required to repair the Achilles tendon.
2. Bunion
If you have a bunion, you will see a bump on the side of your big toe. This is due to the bones moving out of place. The big toe will look longer than the other toes as the big toe moves up. The skin over the bump will be red and feel sore when you touch it. The bump that you see is the joint on your big toe sticking out.
A bunion can be caused by many things, such as arthritis in the joints in your feet. This can also happen if you wear shoes that do not fit properly, such as being too narrow or too tight. There are also smaller bunions that you will see on the joint of the small toe.
The podiatrist will try different treatment options. One option is wearing a gel-filled pad or brace on your foot that covers the bunion. You can also purchase shoe inserts that will help position your toes. Your doctor may suggest a prescription orthotic device if they choose this treatment option. The doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce swelling and reduce pain. Surgery may be required if you continue to feel a lot of pain.
A podiatrist can tell you of other foot problems that can cause pain as well. To learn more, contact a medical office like Scola Podiatry today.
Share24 November 2019
After suffering a traumatic foot and ankle injury, I wasn't sure how to move forward. I wanted to make things right, but the issue was so significant that I needed surgery. After surgery, I was still struggling, so a friend of mine suggested working with a podiatrist in addition to my foot and ankle surgeon. It was an excellent experience, and it felt like I had truly made some strides in the right direction. On this website, I wanted to talk about how podiatrists can help you to get your feet fixed, and how making the right choices can significantly improve your quality of life.
